164 BRITISH BIRDS. 



and October. The Black-tailed Godwit generally arrives on the British 

 coasts in April and May, and passes them in its autumnal journey south 

 in August and September. When on migration it is a shy, restless, and 

 noisy bird, ever changing its ground, frequenting a particular locality one 

 day and entirely deserting it the next. Sometimes days elapse and not a 

 bird is seen ; then suddenly a flock appears, stays a short time, then passes 

 on. Although occasionally seen on the coast (generally on the mud-flats 

 and "saltings," seldom on the sandy beach), this bird loves to frequent 

 freshwater marshes and the swampy portions of moors. Upon the ground 

 it walks about with head bent downward in search of food, somewhat 

 resembling a Curlew or a Whimbrel. Sometimes it runs quickly along, 

 and not unfrequently wades to some depth in the small pools. It is very 

 wary, and seldom allows a near approach, often running a few feet before 

 it takes wing. In autumn it not unfrequently congregates with other 

 Waders, especially with Knots. 



The food of the Black-tailed Godwit consists largely of worms, insects, 

 grubs, and other soft-bodied animals, which are to be found plentifully 

 amongst mud and soft land. Sometimes the bird may be seen searching 

 pastures for food; whilst in autumn and winter, when it occasionally 

 frequents the coast, it feeds on small crustaceans, sand-worms, and other 

 small marine animals. Its diet in summer appears to be varied with roots 

 and shoots of aquatic plants ; and a number of small stones, bits of shells, 

 and gravel are swallowed to aid in the digestion of its food. 



The breeding-season of the Black-tailed Godwit commences in May, and 

 fresh eggs may be obtained throughout that month. Although the bird is 

 so rare in the British Islands, it breeds commonly on the opposite coasts of 

 continental Europe, whence numbers of its eggs are annually sent to 

 London for sale. Its breeding-grounds are in marshy districts ; and 

 although the bird can scarcely be called gregarious at this season, numbers 

 of its nests may be found in a comparatively small area. Capt. Elwes and 

 I took the nest of this bird in Jutland, near Tarm. On the 17th of May 

 we devoted our time to the marshes by the river, poling down stream in a 

 flat-bottomed boat as far as the fjord, to which I have already alluded in 

 my article on the Avocet. In many places these marshes are of great 

 extent. On some of the higher ground a rank grass grows, but in most 

 places it is moss, lichen, peat, sand, and sedge, except where we sauk a few 

 inches in the water. It was rough-drained in most places, with dykes a 

 yard or more wide, but in general we found a good bottom. The river was 

 dammed-in with turf-banks, though it sometimes divided into several 

 streams, and occasionally opened out into a lake full of Equisetum limosum. 

 In one place the marsh was full of patches of reeds four or five feet high. 

 The total length down to the fjord was perhaps eight miles. Ducks were 

 frequently seen passing over this marsh-birds' paradise ; and we took nests 



